by MaxProLax.
1st Round
Ohio Machine: A-Peter Baum, Colgate
Bomb the season for Baum might explode soon – earlier this week 412 Lax (@412_Lax) responded to my tweet about Baum being the first pick by saying ‘LXM Bound’.  I am going to continue to ignore the warning signs (a month ago Baum complimented the LXM product) because I will be devastated to see Baum pass on the MLL.  Other than that I have nothing else to say here, I think I’ve given Baum pretty much every compliment known to man in my previous mock drafts.
Charlotte Hounds: D-Tucker Durkin, JHU
The most complete defender in this class, a lock down guy.  Charlotte’s GM, Wade Leaphart (@Leaphart3), asked me: Do I really need another pole? Well, numerically the Hounds have enough poles but being able to add a guy of this skill and upgrade your arsenal is the right move.  The Hounds have the core in place, they need to add depth, some role players; therefore, I think the Hounds could help themselves by trading back and adding a few more picks if they do not think Durkin is their guy.
Hamilton Nationals: M/A-Marcus Holman, UNC
Holman is probably my favorite player to watch because his vision and versatility. Â I was shocked that an MLL insider that I talked to did not have him in the 1st round. Â The only issue here is does Holman fit in with the Nationals? Would Holman travel to Canada every weekend? I am not sure, that is why it is so tempting to just throw a Canadian here (like a Zach Palmer) although he is not the best player available. Â The jury is still out, but either way, Holman is a 1st round talent.
Rochester Rattlers: A-Will Manny, UMass
Quint Kessenich managed to leave Manny off of his top 12 MLL prospect list.  However, his list included Ohio State’s Logan Schuss.  Nothing against Schuss, I actually am mocking him in the 3rd round for this mock, but he is not a better player than Will Manny.  Manny can QB from x, his split dodge is so smooth that sometimes I can’t even tell when he actually split or how he did it.  He is an opportunistic infection to any D that loses its structure or becomes unsettled.  Crotty and Manny could have a nice 2 man game from x for years to come in Rochester.
Boston Cannons: A-Mike Sawyer, Loyola MD
Ray Allen left the Celtics but Mike Sawyer can fill his shoes as the man that rains the J from behind the arc in Boston.  Let me explain – with Rabil drawing the double, Poskay finishing in tight, Boyle with his ability to dish the rock, Sawyer can run the arc and find a spot to unleash his righty cannon for the Cannons.  This is a perfect marriage and adds another dimension to the Cannons offense.
Long Island Lizards: D-Brian Megill, Syracuse
In my last mock I had Megill falling to the second round. Â I am now a little closer to confirming that Megill is the 2nd best pole in this class.
Denver Outlaws: LSM-Scott Ratliff, Loyola MD
Here is my complaint: since the MLL only has 8 teams right now, it is impossible to mock each player to a team that has a huge hole waiting for them to fill. Â In other words, I am aware that Denver has a solid LSM already.
Here is my statement on Ratliff: offensively he can impact a game just like Costabile, defensively he is solid, and in transition he is a beast.  This is another guy that did not make it to Quint’s top prospect list.  Another thing that I like about Ratliff is that he was not heavily recruited out of high school.  He has said how he used that as motivation, to prove the people wrong that passed up on him.   If MLL teams pass on him in the 1st round I have a feeling he will be making them regret it during his career.
Chesapeake Bayhawks: LSM-Jesse Bernhardt, Maryland
Bernhardt does not bring as much to the offensive side of the ball as Ratliff. Â Instead, Bernhardt stalks his prey in the open field, waiting to blow up the other team in transition. Â It seems like he actually plays off his man, making him look like he is open for a pass. Â Not to mention, the Bayhawks have said that they want to draft local guys.
2nd Round
Boston Cannons (From the Ohio Machine): DM-Josh Hawkins, Loyola MD
Hawkins is a Massachusetts kid and is the best D-mid in this class. Â His breakaway speed creates odd man situations, he is an auto clear, and he is a stud defensively. Â I am willing to say he has freak athleticism.
Charlotte Hounds: F/O + M-Chase Carraro, Denver
The Hounds made a trade to grab a FO/GO for the future in Geoff Snider; he will be available for the final three games of this season. Â He is a career 50% guy but he went 55% last season. Â I still have Charlotte taking Carraro because he had the best face-off % among all juniors last season and he can bring depth to the midfield in Charlotte. Â Cararro is a hybrid FO/GO that can hold his own offensively and that makes him a very attractive prospect.
Hamilton Nationals: DM-Chris LaPierre, UVA
This is a dream scenario for the Nationals; a team that desperately needs someone with heart gets the player that literally took a shot to the heart for his squad.
Ohio Machine (From Rochester): M-John Haus, Maryland
Big Haus fan, I have wanted to throw him in the first round. Â I compare him to Colin Briggs because he has the potential to blow up with the ball in his stick. Â If you watch Maryland throughout the season you see Haus gradually take the lead middi spot from Channenchuk. Â He is the type of middi that can lead a team to a NCAA championship win. Â This is the right pick for Ohio because they need some middies that can enhance their offense.
Boston Cannons: M-Dave Lawson, Duke
Boston goes with another Massachusetts kid.  Lawson did not meet his expectations this season – in his defense, they were through the roof as a pre-season All-American.  Lawson was a part of a team that had Turri and Rotanz at middi with him.  Now that both have graduated Lawson will have the keys to the Duke midfield.  I am expecting Lawson to rise up the draft board after fall ball.
Chesapeake Bayhawks (From Long Island): M-John Ranagan, JHU
He fits the mold of a Bayhawk middi: tall and strong. Â Plus, Ranagan is a local guy. Â Offensively his production dropped off from his Soph year, hopefully he rebounds. Â Not to mention, Ranagan was the first JHU middi since Rabil to be a Soph All-American.
Chesapeake Bayhawks (From Ohio, From Denver): A-Garrett Thul, Army
An Army guy headed to the Navy’s back yard.  Plus, another big guy for the Bayhawks.  Watching film on Thul this year I have seen that he has the 2 point range, he will be best if comes from the box as opposed to starting at attack.  Have to respect those that serve our country.
Ohio Machine (From Chesapeake, to Long Island, to Rochester): M-Cameron Flint, Denver
Another O-mid for Ohio as they attempt to add some fire power and develop a core.
3rd Round
Ohio Machine: G-John Kemp, Notre Dame
Another example of how having only 8 MLL teams creates a log jam at the goalie spot. Â Kemp will continue to fall because a lot of teams have bigger needs.
Hamilton Nationals (From Charlotte): A-Zach Palmer
I know of someone who will disagree with Palmer falling this late; don’t worry, he will climb the board.  The reason I have Palmer this late is because other JHU players have stolen the show every time I watch JHU film.  I am fired up for 2014 prospect Brandon Benn of JHU.
Hamilton Nationals: D-Jason Noble, Cornell
Ohio Machine (From Chesapeake, from Rochester): A-Logan Schuss, Ohio St
Ohio gets high on their own supply here by taking this Ohio St. product.
Boston Cannons: D-Jake Smith, UMass
Will Manny (@Willie_the_kid) told me “I go against Jake every day in practice and he is a major reason I have improved, I’ve never gone against anyone like him, kid is a studâ€.  Although I haven’t seen a lot of film on Smith yet, I could get a good look at a t-bone by sticking my head up a cow’s butt, but I’d rather take the butchers word for it (throwback Tommy Boy quote).  Plus, watching Smith put the clamp down on Baum during the first half of the Colgate game was impressive – a lot of people consider Baum the best prospect available.
Long Island Lizards: D-Reid Acton, Loyola
Long Island Lizards (From Denver): A-Deron Dempster, Yale
The Lizards hit it big with one former Yale attackman, why not give it another shot here? Dempster is 8th among prospects for goals per game.
Chesapeake Bayhawks: A-Owen Blye, Maryland
Local kid – plus being a Maryland player tacks on a few points for GM Brian Reese.
MaxProLax Sleepers: Nick Dolik (Penn St.), Sam Snow (Fairfield)
